SA elephants 'create panic' in Moz

September 26 2008 at 05:29PM

Maputo - An unspecified number of elephants which escaped from South Africa's Kruger Park are creating panic and destroying crops in Mozambique's poor districts of Moamba and Magude, reported the daily Noticias on Friday.

The paper said on its online edition that the elephants were invading the local farmers' gardens, destroying winter crops.

Xavier Mendonca, Moamba district director for economic activities, was quoted by the paper as saying officers from the wildlife and forestry services had been instructed to scare off the animals.

Authorities in the Moamba district were also warning local people of the possibility of attacks from animals which escaped from the Kruger Park.

In Mozambique, elephants are considered as problem animals and last year authorities asked the army and police to shoot problem animals. - Sapa